Alternative Linux file managers
Managing the Jungle
Working with files and folders is a typical daily task on any computer. We tested four lesser known file managers that significantly simplify handling content on mass storage media.
Every Linux desktop environment has its own file manager. Outside the mainstream, beyond the kings of the hill (e.g., Dolphin, Nautilus, Thunar, PCManFM, and Nemo), many smaller and usually less popular file management tools access the content of mass storage devices. By targeting special audiences, these tools often have special functions that are missing in the major league tools on Linux.
XFE: For Oldies
The first contender is X File Explorer, or XFE for short, which was specifically designed for aging computers whose performance is no longer sufficient for state-of-the-art desktops. This oldie has been around since 2002, and unlike many other lean file managers, XFE comes with an appealing graphical interface. Most popular distributions provide the software in their repositories, from which you can easily set up the tool via Synaptic, YaST, or Apper.
If you use a distribution whose repositories still don't have the latest version 1.41, you can pick up the source code (as well as pre-built packages for some distros) from the project website [1]. XFE is based on the FOX Toolkit; it runs very quickly with frugal resource requirements, has no other dependencies, and thus remains compatible with all common interfaces.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Dash to Panel Maintainer Quits
Charles Gagnon has stepped away as maintainer of the popular Dash to Panel Gnome extension.
-
CIQ Releases Security-Hardened Version of Rocky Linux
If you're looking for an enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is hardened for business use, there's a new version of Rocky Linux that's sure to make you and your company happy.
-
Gnome’s Dash to Panel Extension Gets a Massive Update
If you're a fan of the Gnome Dash to Panel extension, you'll be thrilled to hear that a new version has been released with a dock mode.
-
Blender App Makes it to the Big Screen
The animated film "Flow" won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards held on March 2, 2025 and Blender was a part of it.
-
Linux Mint Retools the Cinnamon App Launcher
The developers of Linux Mint are working on an improved Cinnamon App Launcher with a better, more accessible UI.
-
New Linux Tool for Security Issues
Seal Security is launching a new solution to automate fixing Linux vulnerabilities.
-
Ubuntu 25.04 Coming Soon
Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) has been given an April release date with many notable updates.
-
Gnome Developers Consider Dropping RPM Support
In a move that might shock a lot of users, the Gnome development team has proposed the idea of going straight up Flatpak.
-
openSUSE Tumbleweed Ditches AppArmor for SELinux
If you're an openSUSE Tumbleweed user, you can expect a major change to the distribution.
-
Plasma 6.3 Now Available
Plasma desktop v6.3 has a couple of pretty nifty tricks up its sleeve.